Big Shot operational

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bermy
  • Start date Start date
  • Replies Replies 80
  • Views Views 6K
Bermy

Bermy

Acolyte of the short bar
Joined
May 3, 2008
Messages
8,676
Location
Tasmania
Finally! There was a trade show in Hobart and I got the last bits and pieces to make my Big Shot operational.
We went out to practice yesterday and got an 8oz bag up about 70-80' with 1.75mm line. This was with the release clip pulled down to about 2-3' from the bottom of the pole. Does this sound about right?

Also, how do you chaps aim and sight to the target? Is peering over the top of the horns as accurate as it gets? It seems quite wobbly trying to hold the pole right at the bottom in order to keep your fingers away from the release.

Between this and the bow and arrow, we should be much better off now, quicker getting lines in trees and all.
 
I would have though you'd get a bit more elevation, assuming you have an 8 foot pole. A slightly heavier bag might drag the 1.75mm line a bit better/higher...maybe 10 or 12 oz. I use a 14 for most shots.

How about a pic of your release arrangement? I have no problem holding the pole above the release point, but you are right, you have to keep your fingers clear.
 
Burnham said:
...A slightly heavier bag might drag the 1.75mm line a bit better/higher...maybe 10 or 12 oz. I use a 14 for most shots.
Click to expand...

I don't think the physics work that way. Heavier bag requires more power to push, no?

I can pert'near hit 100' using a quick release and pulling it all the way to the bottom with 8oz and 1.75mm ZI. So hitting 70' pulling a couple feet shy seems about right.

Burn, you think if I add a heavier bag I'll get MORE height?



Bermy said:
Also, how do you chaps aim and sight to the target?
Click to expand...

Aiming? What's that?

love
nick
 
If there is no line being pulled into the equation, you are absolutely right. And considering pulling a line, there is a point of diminished return, absolutely.

To put it in more extreme terms to help explain my thoughts...if you put a one ounce weight in the BigShot pouch, attached to a 1/2 inch climbing line, it won't get but a few inches high before losing momentum to the heavy weight it's trying to lift. If the mass of the projectile is increased to 16 ounces, same rope tied to it, it'll get higher...not very much higher, but a measurable amount.

So I think you might get a bit more elevation with a bag a few ounces heavier than Fi is using, but if she doubles it to 16 oz., it won't...just as you posit. There, the limiting factor is the BS ability to throw the heavier weight.

I admit it's a theory :).
 
I'm glad you posted that, jerry. I was telling someone I could easily hit 130' with 4oz and dyneema fishing line. They said it was impossible and I said we were hitting a 130' TIP with ease.

I could see 175' happening.

Burnham, you might be on to something. I see what you're saying about the need for the projectile to be able to "pull" the line. We'd have to do some testing to see what is the optimum ratio. That'd be cool if it was something like 2 ounces per 1/2mm of line thickness or something easy to remember like that.

love
nick
 
Good luck, Nick. The rubbers; their exact length, age, and the ambient temperature plays a big role in this too.

And yes, 175 feet with a full spool. Big spool surf casting reel. Couldn't do it with less.
 
Glad you got it working Fiona. Your accuracy will be an upwards curve as you use it. Try sticking with the same weight (14-16oz is good) regular and your accuracy will improve. As soon as you start switching weights, your learning curve will go to heck. Once you have one weight dialed in accurate. Then try another and it will be quicker to learn. Same goes with line. I don't even worry about mono-filament line until I am shooting over 100 feet. Lighter weights will come into play with that as well. 16oz gets me in most trees under 100 feet with 2.2 zing it and be able to still have it come back down the tree to me :)
 
I hate it when you nail the perfect spot and the bag won't come down, even with a 16 oz bag. It happened to me over and over again on some Black Locust yesterday. It's enough to drive you nuts!

I was thinking about tying two bags together but thought that might get ugly.
 
Black Locust ugh! I had two throw bags stuck in that damn tree last fri. When I finally got the third stuck I said to hell with it and went for coffee. When I got back I tied an old galv. chain swivel on to the last piece of 2.2 I had and Bingo first shot no snags and right to work. Some days you just cannot hit the broad side of a barn and some days you catch the ring on the bag on the tiniest little stub first shot. Fiona, I think you will find that the BS is a tool you may want to feed through a chipper at times, myself included, but will grow to master through use.
 
No joke. I bought mine relatively quickly during my original gear purchasing.

I'll usually go with a 12 oz weight with zing-it, and more recently tried Dynaglide. When I have a 'sticky' tree', I'll try to just let the weight go through the canopy, grab it to stop its upward flight, then drop to the ground, switch to a 20 oz, then manipulate.

Non-isolated SRT shots have sped things up considerbly. The Secret Weapon would be my choice if I used DdRT anymore.
 
I can't hand throw for nothing over thirty feet, I know laugh it up, but I love me some Big Shot. Just practice and you will get a sense of where you need to aim.
 
CurSedVoyce said:
That's when the 20oz comes out......
Click to expand...
FJR said:
I didn't even know of such a bird, thanks Stephen. :)
Click to expand...
+1, Stephan ... just bought a replacement ... wore the last out - not split - worn out. Don Blair (Sierra Moreno) is the only 20oz supplier around here.

SouthSoundTree said:
... I'll try to just let the weight go through the canopy, grab it to stop its upward flight, then drop to the ground, switch to a 20 oz, then manipulate.

... if I used DdRT anymore.
Click to expand...

Good points, Sean. I've taken to always use your method; 'let-r-run' to the ground and never pull a throw-bag back through. I girth the 'lil-fat-man' (20oz) mid-line and work it back & forth to isolate when necessary.
The only time I get a hung-up weight anymore is when I get a bad bounce and it wraps. :X
Then out comes another line and weight. I keep three sets in the kit - all different colors. ;)

DdRT? :roll: :D
 
Fiona, always wear your helmet when you fire the bigshot.
Dead wood can come down, a sling can brake...
And the bigshot is able to do some strange things.:evil:
I really can't tell how I did that, but once, the pouch kept the bag and shut it back to me, full speed, Bam ! just over the brim. No injury with the helmet, but it could hurt.
There's a video like that about a girl sending water melons with a big slingshot : the sling kept it, sent it back and smack in the face. Ouch !.

For your peace of mind, clean well the area or use a tarp on the ground, because the throw-line starts extremely fast and catches all the twigs, debris, leafs, baby trees if you leave it a chance. It's almost magical !
Either you miss the shot or (and) the small dead wood takes with it 20 or 30' of line, so you get a big mess like a bird nest suspended mid-air.:X

But when you tamed it, what a pleasure to see the bag flying throw the canopy and finding a crotch absolutely out of reach.8)
 
I have to remind myself not to look at the limb or crotch in the tree while I aim/ release the Bigshot, it seems I hit the limb every time with the bag and it ricochets back at me.

Always look at and aim for the opening space above it.:lol:
 
I have a big shot, and never use it. I like to throw em by hand. I have some real lousy throwline, and a 14 oz bag. The kind of throwline that comes cheap in a kit. It's hard to work with, but I got used to it long ago and never really felt compelled to upgrade. Anyways, last year I was on a job with a good friend and I went to toss the bag at a crotch at about 85 feet. He had the nice, thin, fast travelling throwline of some variety and a 12 ounce bag. After being conditioned to my stiff plastic like cheap line and heavy bag, I was like a surgeon with his set up. I have no doubt I could kill a flying duck at 75 feet with his throwbag set up. It was fantastic after getting used to using crap.
 
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #25
Thanks everyone!
Tucker, we watched the throwbag competition and were gobsmacked at how high and accurate some people were...25m up and inside the canopy a bit, amazing! If you can do that you have our respect!

The release I have at the moment is just a prussick to pull down and the clip right onto the pouch handle. I don't know how people pull it down by hand and hold it and fire it accurately.

It was chilly yesterday so I assume the rubbers aren't as flexible.
We tried a 6oz sinker on 30lb test out of a spinning reel too, we'll be trying lighter line with that in the future.

We flaked the line into a 5 gal bucket, and the pine we were playing with got a bit of free deadwooding.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Eric H-L
How often do you change the tubing on your Big Shot?
Replies
11
Views
629
Maximalist
Maximalist
Altissimus
Big Ups to Tobe Sherrill
Replies
12
Views
1K
Altissimus
Altissimus
PCTREE
Big chipper
3 4 5
Replies
120
Views
13K
Bixler
Bixler
Russian
Need a big help!!!
Replies
3
Views
967
gf beranek
gf beranek
Spellfeller
operating an aerial lift
2
Replies
31
Views
5K
Spellfeller
Spellfeller
Back
Top